Economic downturn, exploding domestic terrorism threat And policing cuts

Federal tax reductions= state tax increases=local tax increases

Or Federal tax reductions=state services cuts=local services cuts

The bottom line is that local governments usually compromise on a lower tax increase and cutting their most expensive service; their police department.

All of this is happening during an economic depression, with the usual increase in crime that comes with an economic depression and just like in the early 1990s an increase in domestic terrorism. The differences between the early 1990s and what we have now is of degree. The depression is deeper and longer and the cuts to local police may be deeper.

The Oklahoma City bombing was the beginning of the end of the 1990 domestic terrorism run up; in part because of the law enforcement crack down on suspected domestic terrorists and in part because the economic depression was followed by prosperity.

In response to the Twin Towers attack we are aggressively pursuing any terrorist threat, foreign or domestic, at each level of government. Electronic surveillance within the United States is at military intelligence levels. And at least one local police force is getting this (The federal grant for it came through before the economy collapsed):

We are three years into the second largest economic collapse within since the begining of the  Twentieth Century and the end is nowhere in sight. Our local police forces are continuously being cut. The attack in Tucson is so far the worst attack of many recent domestic terrorist attacks. Since Tucson there has been an increase in hate speech from the extreme right and a spike in weapons purchases.  

SEE:

Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment

In a letter dated "May 17, 2007" former Coatesville Police Chief Matthews announced to District Attorney Joe Carroll that he was laying off 6 Coatesville officers.  Sensing their jobs were at risk, 14 police officers left on their own.  I believe the arson fires were a direct result of loosing those officers.

Cutting police officers has a multiplier effect; at some level of police force reduction community policing shuts down, investigative policing shuts down and the police become a reactionary force that is unfamiliar with local persons and local issues. In other words local police can become an occupying army. The final outcome is a more violent society.

Excellent post by Katrina Dix:

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Explanation of police staffing